swimming lessons

your father
threw
you off the boat
in the middle
of the green
bay
and told you
to swim.
and swim you did.
you took your
son
to the pool
and put
flippers
on his feet,
water wings
on his arms
and stood
next to him,
within reach.
he too learned
how to swim,
but it took
longer, much
longer,
not just in
swimming, but
in all things.